eBay volvo : ex police?
eBay volvo : ex police?
Author
Discussion

KardioKate

Original Poster:

1,584 posts

174 months

Thursday 22nd March 2012
quotequote all
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-V70-T5-/2209802254...

Was having a look at this. The lack of roof rails, tinted windows, mileage and seat wear make me think this is ex-plod.

Thoughts? Worth a punt or not?

mojitomax

1,876 posts

212 months

Thursday 22nd March 2012
quotequote all
what's "suitable appropriate insurance" for test driving a SORN'd car?

how would one be able to test drive it apart from taking out temporary insurance and booking it in with an MOT place (to avoid paying for a new road tax)?

NadiR

1,071 posts

167 months

Thursday 22nd March 2012
quotequote all
It certainly looks like an ex copper car from where I'm sitting, especially with it being white, dog guards, and cop cars tending to being top of the range engine with no options.

I wouldn't hesitate in buying an ex cop car at all, as they are serviced more often then non police cars and serviced to the highest standards, and I've even heard that they have stronger engines due to being driven harder for more of the time hence loosening the engine up nicely.

Many people I've seen on PH have written in a previous thread on the same topic saying "buying an ex plod is like marrying a prostitute" which never fails at making me laugh at their ridiculousness.

MX7

7,902 posts

194 months

Thursday 22nd March 2012
quotequote all
White with cloth seats is almost 100% plod.

It doesn't mean it's not worth buying though.

16v_paddy

366 posts

212 months

Thursday 22nd March 2012
quotequote all
To the best of my knowledge (mate of mine has had quite a few of them) all V70's & S60's that are white are ex-plod, you couldn't get 1 that colour from volvo.

The plod V70's have self levelling suspension on the rear, probably useless info but just something I know about them :P

DanB7290

5,535 posts

210 months

Thursday 22nd March 2012
quotequote all
Question is, would you buy a car from someone who uses 'brought' when they should use 'bought'
/PedanticGrammarNaziMode

Wafflesmk2

1,347 posts

174 months

Thursday 22nd March 2012
quotequote all
A guranteed way of spotting a cop car is check for rear badges.

They get removed for the livery and never get replaced.

james280779

1,931 posts

249 months

Thursday 22nd March 2012
quotequote all
As a cop- possibly.

I would never buy one personally as I know how they are driven. I drive 12 hours a day from 999 call to 999 call pretty much flat out, I then hand over keys to the next shift who do the same. cars tend to fail every few weeks which are then repaired to the cheapest standard before being sent out again due to demand.
BTW in my experience - BMW's are the worst by far, spend less than 30% of the time on the road, the rest being repaired.

Due to cost slashing there is currently a 1997 rover brought out of retirement (I am not kidding). I remember one shift where an entire London borough had two cars only. 16 officers out on foot!

Back to subject

The way it sits looks likely, best way to check is to get under the hood and look behind the grill for the holes drilled for the covert front blues which are almost never filled. Also get your head into behind the stereo section and look for evidence of holes/ wires out of place. possible damage to the stereo/ dash section where the MDT would have been attached, there should also be evidence of the mains radio set usually in the glove box out of the way.

another one is too look for alot of scuffing around the front doors. we all wear boots usually Magnums or SWAT which leave marks fairly prominently.

the only thing usually upgraded is the brakes, this isnt always the case but check those out too.

A couple of things that do go against it though -the car is a manual, most police I have driven were auto, this is purely due to the amount of miles. Not conclusive as I have seen the occasional manual.
Another is the condiditon of the boot. Remember most of these Volvo's are traffic and as such the boot is packed with cones/ signs/ tape/ first aid kits etc etc. the boot looks in too good condition but that doesnt mean it hasnt been redone.

another out there question is to ask the seller- they might know

Volvo sold white cars to public its just police bought most of these up before they hit the forecourts.

Wafflesmk2

1,347 posts

174 months

Thursday 22nd March 2012
quotequote all
james280779 said:
As a cop- possibly.

Due to cost slashing there is currently a 1997 rover brought out of retirement (I am not kidding). I remember one shift where an entire London borough had two cars only. 16 officers out on foot!
Get them to source an SD1


james280779

1,931 posts

249 months

Thursday 22nd March 2012
quotequote all
yeah I have heard it all, even some collegues offering to come out of retirement if they resurrect the mighty Allegro!

To be fair though some of the older cars were far better than the crap we are currently running.

The Sweeney Granada springs to mind!